Lab Members
Current Lab Members
Principal Investigator
BS, Biology- Cornell University 2002
PhD, Microbiology and Immunology (Dr. Michele Swanson) - University of Michigan 2006
ACS Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular and Cell Biology (Dr. Daniel Portnoy) - University of California, Berkeley 2011
Graduate Students
Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (MDTP)
BS, Biology - UW Platteville, 2018
Project: Listeria monocytogenes is a food borne pathogen that has evolved to survive and replicate inside the host cytosol. The lab has shown that certain genes are required for cytosolic survival via a forward genetic screen. However, the genetic screen is not able to assess essential genes. Essential genes cannot be recovered under the conditions the genetic screen is performed in . My project aims to use CRISPRi to study these essential genes that are necessary for the bacteria to survive in the cytosol. Our use of CRISPRi in L. monocytogenes will allow us to identify and further study the essential genes needed to survive and replicate in the cytosol.
Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP)
BS, Biochemistry - UW Madison, 2019
Project: One of my projects in the lab is to develop a novel model system using zebrafish larvae as a genetic screening tool for Listeria monocytogenes. Using this zebrafish infection model combined with bacterial genetics and cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology, I aim to identify genes that L. monocytogenes requires to cause disease. Identification of these genes is critical to identifying novel targets for the development of new antibiotics. My other research project focuses on the complex networks involved in wound healing in the context of bacterial infection. Specifically, I am studying how different inflammatory responses stimulated by L. monocytogenes affect tissue regeneration in zebrafish.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)/Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
BS, Biochemistry - University of Minnesota, 2018
Project:
Research Specialist/Lab Manager
Postbaccalaureate Students
Undergraduate Students
Project:
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
CY Kao PhD - 2017-2019 Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology Fellow
Projects: role of DHNA in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis and function of Stk1 in S. aureus beta-lactam resistance
Currently: Associate Professor at National Yang-Ming University
Caroline Grunenwald PhD - 2020-2022 American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow
Projects: Role of Stk1 in cell wall stress, redox stress and nutritional stress in S. aureus
Currently: Assistant Professor at University of Missouri
Jessica Kelliher PhD - 2020-2022 NIH NRSA F32 Postdoctoral Fellow, Leading Edge Fellow
Projects: Role of PrkA in cell wall stress responses, cytosolic survival and virulence in L. monocytogenes
Currently: Assistant Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin
Graduate Students
Zach Morrow PhD - 2017-2023 Cell and Molecular Biology Program
Thesis Title: Understanding innate immune signaling during Listeria monocytogenes vaccination and its implications for cancer immunotherapy
Currently: Scientist at Fuji Cellular Dynamics Inc, Madison WI
Hans Smith PhD - 2017-2022 Cell and Molecular Biology Program
Thesis Title: Role of DHNA and NAD+/NADH redox balance in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis
Currently: Scientist I at MilliporeSigma, Rockville MD
Courtney McDougal PhD - 2015-2021 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Thesis Title: Role of eicosaniods on cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes and its implications on cancer therapy
Currently: Postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Marion Pepper, University of Washington
Dan Pensinger PhD - 2014-2019 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Thesis Title: Maintenance of cell wall integrity in the cytosol of host cells is essential for virulence of Listeria monocytogenes
Currently: Researcher, Hryckowian Lab, Madison, WI
Adam Schaenzer PhD - 2013-2018 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology
Thesis Title: Characterization of the PASTA kinases as antibiotic targets in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes
Currently: Postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Gerry Wright at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CA
Grischa Chen PhD - 2012-2017 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Thesis Title: Uncovering the genetic determinants of Listeria monocytogenes survival in the host cytosol
Currently: Scientific Lab Manager at the Carnegie Institute for Science, Pasadena CA
Will Vincent PhD - 2012-2017 Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (co-mentor: Anna Huttenlocher)
Thesis Title: Innate immune cell recruitment and host defense in response to intracellular bacterial infection
Currently: Microscopy Sales Representative at Olympus Corporation of the Americas
Erin Theisen MD, PhD - 2013-2017 Cellular and Molecular Pathology
Thesis Title: Inflammasome activation impairs cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes
Currently: Instructor in Dermatology Harvard Medical School
Researcher Specialists
John Thorstenson
BS, Biochemistry - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2021
Currently: PhD student in the Horswill Lab, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
Tighe Christopher
BS, Biochemistry and Microbiology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2019
Currently: PhD student in the Tait Wojno Lab, University of Washington
Zach Powers
BS, Microbiology - University of Wisconsin - Madison 2019
Currently: PhD student in the O'Riordan Lab, University of Michigan Medical School
Drew Rust
BS, Biochemistry- University of Wisconsin-Madison 2019
Currently: Medical student at Western Michigan University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Students
Danny Hill - 2020-2023 (Sophomore Research Fellowship, POSSE Scholar)
Currently: TS/MS Scientist at Eli Lilly, Indianapolis IN
McKenzie Daanen - 2019-2021 (Hilldale Fellow)
Currently: PhD student in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the University of California San Francisco (rotating)
Zach Powers - 2018-2020
Currently: PhD student in the Programs in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (O'Riordan Lab)
Rhiannon Abrahams - 2019 (REU Signals)
Currently: PhD student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training program at University of Wisconsin - Madison (Majumder Lab)
Alex Budke - 2018-2019
Currently: unknown
Matt Becraft - 2016-2018
Currently: Naturalist WisCorps
Drew Rust - 2015-2018 (Hilldale Fellow)
Currently: Medical Student at Western Michigan University School of Medicine
Cadin Truesdale - 2017
Currently: unknown
Kim Gutierrez - Summer 2017 (REU Signals)
Currently: PhD student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training program at University of Wisconsin - Madison (Sauer Lab)
Emily Forster PhD- 2015-2017 (Hilldale Fellow)
Previously: Tufts University PhD Molecular Microbiology (2022)
Currently: Technology Specialist, Lando & Anastasi, LLP Intellectual Property Law Firm
Jon Kaletka PhD- 2015-2017
Previously: Michigan State University PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2022)
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan (O'Riordan Lab)
Melissa Arroyo - 2015
Currently: unknown
Marc D'Antonio - 2013-2016 (Hilldale Fellow)
Currently: PhD Student in Immunology CU Denver Anschutz Graduate School (Torres Lab)
Meng Xiong - 2013-2015
Currently: PhD student in Epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (MPH in Global Health and Epidemiology 2018, George Washington University)
Phanary Xiong - 2012-2014
Currently: PharmD Student, UW Madison
Andrea Favero - 2013 (Internship)
Currently: QC analyst at Stratatech Corporation, a Mallinkrodt company
Kyle Sherman - 2012-2013
Currently: unknown
Ben Knight MD- 2012-2013 (Hilldale Fellow)
Previously: Medical College of Wisconsin (2017)
Currently: Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI
Kevin Hughes PhD- 2012 (Summer REU Student)
Previously: Yale University PhD Biomedical and Biological Sciences (2020)
Currently: Drug Development Training Fellow - Clinical Pharmacology at Genentech